Bridle-bit



J. P0. BROTT 80' M. L. ANDREWS.

BRIDLB BIT.

WITNESSES INVENTOR MW W Z km? W a 0 5M W;

ATTORNEYS.

lleiTTen STATEs PATENT Trice.

JOHN R. BROTT, OF EAST MEDXVAY, AND MARTIN L. ANDREWS, F MEL- ROSE, MASSACHUSETTS.

BRlDLE-BlT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 312,182, dated February 10, 1885.

Application filed December 13, 1854. (N0 model To'aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, JOHN R. BROTT, of East Medway, Norfolk county, State of Massachusetts, and MARTIN L. ANDREWS, of Melrose, Middlesex county, State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Bridle-Bits, of which the following is a description.

The efficiency of the ordinary bar or snaf- IO fle-bit in guiding a horse depends upon the comparative facility with which its side rings or bars may be drawn or pressed laterally against the facial muscles at the corners of the mouth, and theaim ofimprovements heretofore has been to provide a bit which will keep the mouth partly open and the teeth off the connecting-bar or bit proper, in order that this pressure on the sensitive facial muscles may be readily secured; but bruising and other injury of the muscles and lips are liable to result, and this, coupled with other incidents of the use ofthe ordinary bit, renders it objectionable.

Our improved bit is so constructed that a 2 5 connecting-bar passing through the mouth is dispensed with, side hooks being used instead, and the same inserted between the teeth and cheeks. These side hooks are connected and formed integral with a curved bar that 0 passes around the under jaw of the horse.

A bit thus constructed and applied is specially adapted for use on horses known as side-reiners, tongue-lollers, and bolters, and, in fact, 011 all vicious driving 5 horses, because it draws the cheek away from instead of against the molar teeth, as other bits tend to do, and thereby avoids the soreness or irritation which is the usual cause for the display of viciousness or some annoying 4o habit in driving.

In accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front view of the lower portion of a horses head with the upper jaw or nose broken away to allow the position of the bit-hooks in the month to be seen. Fig. 2 is a perspective View showing a horses head with our bit applied. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the bit. The bit proper is formed of the hooks or mouth-pieces A and the curved or approximately-semicircnlar bar B, all forged in one piece. The mouth-hooks A are essentially right angular in form, their round shorter arms a projecting inward or toward each other, and their flattened and longer arms I), standing parallel, and at or nearly at a right angle to the curved connecting-bar B. Rings 0, for attachment of a headstall and drivingreins, are attached at the ends of the bar in the same manner as to bits in ordinary use.

To apply the bit to a horse, the curved bar 50 Bis held in one hand and the books A inserted in the mouth, so that their longer arms I) pass upward between the molars and checks, as illustrated in Fig. 1. The headstall is then slipped over the ears and the operation is complete.

It will be perceived that in practice by pulling on both reinsat once,the shorter arms a of said hooks will press more or less forci bly backwardagainst the corners of the mouth of the animal, while by pulling one rein alone, as required for guiding to the right or left, the check on the side on which traction is exerted will be drawn away from the adjacent teeth, and if the traction be suflicient 7 the portion of the bar B contiguous to the opposite book will be pressed against the side of the lower jaw. Thus neither cheeks nor lips are forced against the teeth, and no bruising, irritation, or other injury of the same can result, so that the most sensitive-mouthed horse can wear the bit with comfort. The bit is, however, adapted for controlling hardmouthed or runaway horses, since no pull is exerted against the jaw proper and the bit cannot be seized between the teeth.

Another important advantage results in that the tongue of the animal is left free, and there is no interference with drinking or eating. Besides, the champing, frothing, and drooling 0 caused by other bits never attend the use of this. The bit is, moreover, ornamental, and contributes materially to the stylish appearance of a team.

In the drawings I have shown a strap, D, Fig. 2, passing through the loops of the headstall (where buckled to the rings) and around the nose of the animal. This is usefulin holding the bit steady in place, and'assists in controlling the animal.

hat we claim is and projecting parallel to each other at aright 1o 1. A bridle-bit consisting of hooks adapted angle, or nearly so, to said bar, as shown and for insertion between the cheeks and teeth of described.

a horse and a curved bar connectin the same T 5 and adapted to pass around the jaw? substan tially as shown and described.

2. The improved bridle-bit formed of the NVitnesses:

curved jaw-bar Band the right-angularhooks L. W. HOWES, 4 A A, constructed in one rigid piece therewith ANNAH I-I. HERNANDEZ. 

